Revolving christmas tree stand



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1947 INVENTQR. ANTHONY MMASONE I-.. I ,0, 8 w 3 5 4 l m 0 P5 a 3 k 3 A i w M4 fl. 0 wwlwlm a ATT).

y 1949. A. N. MASONE 2,469,884

REVOLVING CHRISTMAS TREE STAND 2.1 1 'IIIIL IN VEN TOR. ANTHONY N. MASONE I and screws I6 (Figs. 2 and 3).

Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REVOLVING CHRISTMAS TREE STAND Anthony N. Mascne, Waterbury, Conn.

Application June 19, 1947, Serial No. 755,652

T 1 Claim.

This invention relates to Christmas tree stands, and more particularly to a revolving stand of the above nature having connections for supplying electric current to electrical apparatus.

One object of this iivention is to provide a device of the above nature having outer bearings whereby the Christmas tree will be supported with increased stability.

Another object is to provide a device of the above nature wherein a thrust bearing is pro-,

vided directly beneath the tree to carry the weight thereof, as well as the outer bearings which impart stability to the tree.

Another object is to provide a device of the above nature which includes an outer electric outlet revolving with the stand, and safe and reliable connections between said outlet through an interior fixed hub to a stationary source of current.

A further object is to provide a device of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very efficient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawing, one form in which the invention may conveniently be embodied in practice.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the revolving Christmas tree stand with a portion broken away to show the interior mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view, on a vertical plane, substantially through the center of the stand, and showing the butt of a tree supported thereby,

Fig. 3 is a view partly in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the central thrust bearing, the flxed hub, and electric contact features.

' Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical circuits of the revolving stand.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral IIlv indicates generally a revolving stand supporting the butt I I of an upright Christmas tree. The stand It is supported on a pair of intersecting cross bars I2 having downturned offset ends forming feet I3 adapted to rest on a floor or other horizontal surface.

In order to support the weight of the tree, a cylindrical hub I4 is mounted centrally on the cross bars I2 and is secured thereto by angle clips The upper end of the hub It is formed with an inner circular recess I'I, Within which is fitted an annular ball bearing I8, including angular outer and inner raceways I9 and-2E, and balls 2|.

The ball bearing I8 supports a concentric.

flanged washer 22, comprising a cylindrical portion 23 formed with a circular recess 24 on the outer portion of its lower end to receive the inner raceway 26 of the bearing I8, whereby the washer 22 is rotatable about a vertical axis,

A depending cylindrical shield 25 is disposed exteriorly of the washer 22 and overlaps the hub I I- in closely spaced relation in order to afiord protection for the bearing parts. The flanged washer 22 and the cylindrical shield 25 are secured to the underside of a horizontal circular revolving plate 26 by any desired means, as for example, by welding. A central upstanding spike 21 threaded into the upper side of the plate 26, is adapted to receive the butt I I of the Christmas tree, whereby said tree will be located for rotation with the plate 26 directly above the bearing I8, and the supporting hub I4.

While the ball bearing I8 and the other parts described above will furnish a solid support for the Christmas tree, stabilizing means for holding the tree firmly erect is provided comprising a circular track 28 (Figs. 1 and 2) having the cross sectional form of an upwardly-facing channel. The track 28 is secured to the cross bars I2 concentrically with the hub It by rivets 29.

The under side of the revolving plate 26 is provided with three spaced rollers 30 rotatably attached thereto by a plurality of angle brackets 3I secured by rivets 32. The rollers 36 are adapted to travel around the circular track 28 as the stand rotates, and thereby furnish a stable support for the revolving plate 26.

The Christmas tree is held erect upon the plate 25 by a collar 33 embracing the butt II and supported at a distance above the spike 27 by a plurality of downwardly diverging arms 34, which have their upper ends riveted to said collar 33 and their lower ends held in clips 35 riveted to the upper surface of the revolving plate 26. It will be seen. that the arms 34 will carry any'lateral forces directly from the butt II downwardly through the plate 26, the angle brackets 3|, and the rollers 30 to the track 28, which is solidly supported on the floor by the cross bars I2. Thus, there will be strong resistance to any tendency on the part of the tree to overturn.

In order to rotate the plate 26 and the tree thereon, a motor 36 is mounted on one of the cross bars I2 between the hub I4, and the track 28, as by a strap clamp 36a.

The motor 36 has a pulley 31 which rotates in a vertical plane and drives a belt 310. which engages a large driven horizontal pulley 38 secured against the under face of the revolving plate 26 concentrically with the flanged washer 22.

In orderto guide the belt 31a into the proper planes of operation, a pair of guide pulleys 39 are provided to support said belt so as to be tangential to the pulleys 3I, 38. The guide pulleys 39 are mounted in a pair of angular arms comprised in an upright bracket 4| (Figs. 1 and 2), said bracket being mounted upon one of the cross bars 12, adjacent the drive pulleys-1.

Electric current .is' supplied to the motor '36 through a cord 42 having a terminal plug '43 adapted to be connected to any suitable source-.of power. In order to furnish current to a plug 44 and a cord 45 leading to the Christmas tree lights or other electrical apparatus (not shown),, on the tree or stand l0, an electric outlet orreceptael-e 46 is mounted in an aperture onaperipheral concealing skirt 48 formed on the circular .revolving plate 26, whereby the plug 44 arm the cord 45 will rotate freely with the stand to avoid ahyuang'er o'f 'twi'sting or kinking said cord.

"The receptacle 46 receives electric current flf ijorn the cord 42 through a pair of conductors 63, 58, "comprised ina branch '49 or said =cord which leads into the interior or the hub 44 through anaperture 5'0.

asa provision rm mounting theelectri'cal 'con- "diictors', the hub 'lq h 's an inner-flanges! spaced -rrorn--t e top or said hub,and"securedthereinby a cylindrical ortion t2 preferabl welded'to the hub. The nange tt fits mm a circular recess at the lower "'ellii "bf an insulating "b16k '54, in order torigi'dly'support said block.

aver-tidal (pin "55 concentric with "the bearing "l8 j'passes through the block 54; and has an upp'e'r cfoht'a'ct headtt anda-lowernut 57, which holds 'the-conductorfiso'fthe cord'branch45. ;A vertical eccentric pin 59 also passes through theblock 54 and has anup'per head secured to a-slip During the operation of decorating the Christmas tree, it may be desired to provide lights or other electrical apparatus to enhance the artistic appearance. .This apparatus .is conventionally suppliedfi'vith the cord and theplug 44 shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and said plug will be then inserted into the receptacle 46, whereupon a continuous supply of electric current will be assurednuring rotation of the tree.

Qri'ngtl which is cqncentric withsaid contact '55, $2.;

an a lower nut 62'whi'ch secures-the other conductor.6'3 bithacordbtahoh 4'9. insulating w'ash'er' fl 's'ecuied'upon the ecc'entricpin 59 will retain the bro-ch54 "in place, and also'insure'that the conductor '53 s insurateorrom 'thefiang'e 51. 1

The cylindrical p'ortibh '23 or the flanged Washer .22 contains an upper insulating bl'ock repainea thereimby Ian i'nturned rim 6'6 or the yliharib'al 'pbition 2'3. A 'cbrlce'htfi'cstlld't'l and an eccentri studtt aretrlreaderrintotherower surface or the b10c'k"65,and. have, respectively, a U-sh'ap'ed spring contacttfl andarollercohtact 10 which willmaintain electric connection with 'th'e'contac'theadfiti and the slip rin'g't'l, respectivery, throughout rotation or the Christmas tiee "The improved revolving Christmas tree stand may t'e'supprrea to'the userzrall assembreaanu it willohlyibe aeees'sary to place it irr'a desired location upon "hor zontal surface. whereupon theb'utt "H or the'ohristmastree win be'ihserted through the collar 33 androreea iiiibh'the-spilte ti. "T eme-sateen thew-be ihsrtd 'irito "ohveni'entelectrical' outlet.

, any of the revolving parts.

ere-(imam "apparatus unch the stafid will rotate .Oneadvanta ge of the revolving Christmas tree stand "described herein is that no fire hazard will =.existzfroniitheaelectrical connections of the stand.

It will be understood that the electric cord 42'wi1l beheld'stationary, and will not be disturbed by The cord 45 of the -withth'e revolving plate -26 anemia-ob ects sup- :perteawhereDaanu-conse uently, cannot become snagged by objects revolving with-the stand.

contacts Within the hllb 14 or the stand *itie fully insulated and protected fromdirt and -againstshort eircuitmg=-or interference with exterior objects.

A "further advantage of i this invention is that the WeightOf the christmas tree is directly-supported by "a thrust lbearing located under "the butt of the tree, "and the outwardly spaced bearings 30 together with the-inclined arms 34 will firmly and'reliabl'y brace the tree against over- -'-embodied, it i's to beunder-stood that this form bbtlied I in various *other form without departing fi'OIITi'tS Siifiilt. IITShOit, the invention inC1'L1d6S all the modifications and embodiments coming *Withinth s'bopebf'the following claim.

ffi'avlh'g thus "fully "described 'the invention, 'what'is'claimedas new, 'andfor Whichit-isdesired to secure Letters Patent, is:

In a revolving Christmas trees'tand, a stationny-supporting base, a "revolving plate, an annu- "l'ai "bearing supportings'aid plate on said base,

means for sup orting a Christmas tree inerect position .on said plate, insulated electric con- .rduct'dr means extending 'fiom'the'stationary' sup- "porting base through "said annular bearing "to saidrevolvingplate, and adapted to conduct our- "r'ehtf to electrical apparatus upon 's'aid'plate; said conductor means including relatively movable contacts mounted within said annular "bearing .for maintaining the continuity of the conductor "ih'e'an's ii'ur'ing continued "revolution 'of the revo lving .plate, a receptacle, and means mounting saiereee tacle on saidrplate.

ANTHONY N. MASONE.

- REFERENCES CITED Theio llowing :references are of record in the file of this-patent: 

